Window structure



`Iuly 25, 1967 F. F. BEM. 3,332,171

WINDOW STRUCTURE Filed April 9, 1965 2 ShGe'LS-Sheeb l @W7/new 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 F. F. BEIL WINDOW STRUCTURE July 25, 1967 Filed April 9, 1965 uhllnllllllll United States Patent O 3,332,171 WINDOW STRUCTURE Forrest F. Beil, Dubuque, Iowa, assigner to Caradco Incorporated, a corporation of Iowa Filed Apr. 9, 1965, Ser. No. 446,907 1 Claim. V(Cl. 49-445) This invention relates to a sash balance for a window structure including side jambs and a slidable window sash therein.

In window structures of the above type the slidable window sashes, both upper and lower, are customarily balanced by counteracting forces. One such form of balance is a helical spring which tends to act against the weight ofthe sash.

One of the features of this invention is to provide an improved sash balance of the coil spring type for slidable window sashes in which the balance may be held entirely by the sash as in installing or removing the sash and which can then be easily attached by means of a connector forming a part of the balance to a side jamb to suspend the sash by the spring.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of one embodiment thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings. Of the drawings:

FIGURE l is a front elevational view of a window structure and sash balance embodying the invention with portions broken away for clarity of illustration.

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but showing the pair of slidable window sashes in dierent positions.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional elevational View showing the sash balance of this embodiment.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE l but showing the balance in engagement with its sash during insertion or removal of the sash from its frame.

FIGURE 6 is an exploded perspective view of a sash balance embodying the invention.

The window in the illustrated embodiment comprises a frame 10 having side jambs 11 and vertically slidable top 12 and bottom 13 sashes.

As disclosed in FIGURE l the bottom sash 13 is provided with a sash balance 14 that includes a helical spring 15 having a lower end attached adjacent the bottom of the bottom sash 13 at a side rail 16 by means of a fastening screw 17. The upper end of this spring 15 is contained within a tube 18 and is held by a connector 19 at the upper end of the tube. As is shown in FIGURE 1 the tube 18 contains the portion of the spring above the bottom sash 13 when the sash is in its lowermost position. As is shown in FIGURE 4, the spring 15 and tube 18 are contained in a side groove 20 in the bottom sash 13 except for those portions of the spring and tube that extend above the top rail 21 of the bottom sash.

As is shown in enlarged detail in FIGURE 3 where the spring 15 is illustrated entirely within the tube 18, the lower end 22 of the spring 15 is arranged in a circle. This circle 22 is engaged by a hook 23 forming a part of a lower connector 24 which has a base beyond the tube 18 and which is engaged by the screw 17 to attach the lower end of the connector 24 and thus of the spring 15 to the side rail 16.

3,332,171 Patented July 25, 1967 ice Also as shown in FIGURE 3 the upper end of each spring 15 is similarly arranged in a circle 25 which engages a similar hook 26 on the lower end of the top connector 19.

As is shown in FIGURE 1 when the lower sash 13 is in its lowermost position the spring 15 is extended and the part of the spring that would be exposed above the top rail 21 of the lower sash 13 is hidden and protected by the tube 18. The remainder of the spring extending beyond the lower end of the tube 18 is hidden by being contained entirely within the sash groove 20.

FIGURE 2 illustrates both the lower end of the bottom sash spring 15 as well as the sash balance 14 for the top sash 12. This balance for the top sash utilizes an identical bottom yconnector 24 and retaining screw similar to the screw 17, an identical top connector 19 and an identical tube 18.

The top connector 19 is rotatable within the top of the tube 18 and is provided with a projecting nger 27. When the connector 19 is moved to a irst position as shown in FIGURE 5 (in connection with the top sash 12), this finger engages the sash, here the top rail 28, so that the spring 15 is held under tension to hold the balance within the groove 29 in the top sash 12 which is similar to the previously discussed groove 20 in the bottom sash 13- In this position and under stress the sash 12 can then be inserted into or removed from the frame 10 without interference by the balance 14.

Then, when the top connector 19 is rotated to a second position, as `shown in FIGURES 1-3, the finger 27 engages holding means illustrated by the recess 30 on the side jamb 11 to suspend the sash from the frame by means of the balance.

Although this function and use of the balance has been described above in connection with the upper sash 12, exactly the same procedure is applicable to the lower sash 13 and its corresponding balance 14.

As shown in FIGURE 4, the window structure of the disclosed embodiment includes the customary spring weather strip 31.

The connectors 19 and 24 may be made of any suitable material such as metal, for example aluminum, zinc or steel, or metal castings, or can be made of molded plastic. The connectors of the balance eliminate the need for additional attaching hardware or tools to install the window. The only necessity is to have an attaching screw 17 with the lower end of each balance and a recess 30 for engagement by the finger 27 The tube 18 is preferably made of a molded plastic material and is attached to the top connector 19 only as shown by the attaching pin 32. Thus, the tube permanently covers the top end of the spring 15 so as to hide the spring when the window sash is moved to the extreme limit of its movement away from the top connector 19. This tube is provided for appearance only.

Having described my invention -as related to the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention be not limited by any of the details of description, unless otherwise specified, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claim.

I claim:

In a window structure including frame side jambs and a slidable window sash therein, a sash balance comprising: a helical spring; means for attaching one end of said spring to said sash; and a connector on the other end of said spring movable between a pair of positions, in the first of which said connector engages a surface on said sash itself to hold said spring under tension on said sash during installation of said sash in said frame, and in the second of which said connector engages holding means on said frame jambs to suspend the sash by said spring, said connector having a hook portion in engagement with said spring and a single arcuately movable projecting finger engaging said sash in said rst position and said holding means in said second position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Dinsmore 49-445 X Haas 49-445 X Decker et al 49-445 X Osten 49-445 X Nobes 16-197 l DAVID I. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

o HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner.

J. KBELL, Assistant Examiner. 

